Game 74: Dallas Mavericks (35-38) vs. Orlando Magic (35-38)

[F Gump]

I don’t know if it is just new, but the team just looks better with Williams on the floor.  His quickness just makes things easier.  His finishing at the rim has been good.  It is crazy but I have no idea how the Mavs replace his minutes when his games run out.

To me, BW's been showing something valuable since mid-Feb, which is when I began to mention him as a possibility for an end-of-season contract (instead of Edwards).

By my count, he has 1 two-way game left, and if that's the next one, he will then become unavailable for 5 games. (Who knew Brandon Williams being unavailable for 5 games would be a thing for the Mavs? I sure didn't have that on MY bingo card!)

Edwards is already out of 2-way eligibility. Kai J won't make the end of the season either, but he can play all but 2 games.

If they wish, they can "promote" a player to the 15-man roster to fill the open roster slot and play the last 2 games (plus any post-season), and my guess is they will do that with BW. (Counting this season's games, they could actually offer him up to 4 years at the minimum, and I would offer 2 more NG years plus a TO for a 4th - he's never made a 15-man roster, ever.) In addition to the one player for 2 games, they could sign another player for the last game, but they currently lack a roster spot. They could apply for (and should be eligible to get) a hardship waiver to sign a 16th player, but they can't use a hardship guy in the playoffs or tack on an additional year or 3 on that sort of deal.

[FireNicoHarrison]

Bad timing for the Hardy good game every month. Ouch.

[bubbler86]

The Kings won, so there is no tanking for the West final spots, but the Mavs' hopes of getting to the 8th or 9th seed for the draft are mostly tanked. The Lakers cannot beat the Bulls...one might say the Mavs playing better than the Lakers right now.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

The Kings won, so there is no tanking for the West final spots, but the Mavs' hopes of getting to the 8th or 9th seed for the draft are mostly tanked.  The Lakers cannot beat the Bulls...one might say the Mavs playing better than the Lakers right now.

The Lakers had what happened to them, what they did to the Pacers the night before. A buzzer beater. Funny how things work out.

[bubbler86]

The Lakers had what happened to them, what they did to the Pacers the night before. A buzzer beater. Funny how things work out.

...and the Lakers had a 16-point lead heading into the 4th AND a 5-point lead with 12 seconds left, and the Bulls were inbounding, so it was a full on choke.  Were it not for Reeves, the Bulls would not have needed the prayer half court shot.  Reeves kept the Lakers from losing it earlier. The Bulls scored 6 points in 2 seconds when Bron handed the ball back to them. One of the worst losses in years in my opinion.

[Chicagojk]

...and the Lakers had a 16-point lead heading into the 4th AND a 5-point lead with 12 seconds left, and the Bulls were inbounding, so it was a full on choke.  Were it not for Reeves, the Bulls would not have needed the prayer half court shot.  Reeves kept the Lakers from losing it earlier.  The Bulls scored 6 points in 2 seconds when Bron handed the ball back to them.  One of the worst losses in years in my opinion.

what a wild ride for the Lakers the last two nights.   One with celebration, the next night celebration turned into depression.  Fun games.

BTW, What is going on with the Bulls?   They trade Lavine...Lonzo is out with injury and they are red hot.   Coby White won player on the week and is probably someone they keep now.   I had thought that a late lottery pick would be too much for him a few weeks ago.  Now, that price is not enough.  Giddey has been playing great.   

Speaking on the Mavs perspective, I hope AD and PJ play against the Bulls next.   I am anxious to see how our big lineup matches up against the Bulls who like to spread the floor and play fast pace.    They are not the level of the Celtics but it is a concern I had with our big lineup against teams like this.  I would like to see how it looks.

[ballsrchr]

On the contrary, Dirk's more available than Franz.

Oh.  Yes...I see.  You are right.

[bubbler86]

what a wild ride for the Lakers the last two nights.   One with celebration, the next night celebration turned into depression.  Fun games.

BTW, What is going on with the Bulls?   They trade Lavine...Lonzo is out with injury and they are red hot.   Coby White won player on the week and is probably someone they keep now.   I had thought that a late lottery pick would be too much for him a few weeks ago.  Now, that price is not enough.  Giddey has been playing great.   

Speaking on the Mavs perspective, I hope AD and PJ play against the Bulls next.   I am anxious to see how our big lineup matches up against the Bulls who like to spread the floor and play fast pace.    They are not the level of the Celtics but it is a concern I had with our big lineup against teams like this.  I would like to see how it looks.

It was an incredible ending.  Reeves bending over after the final shot was the picture of the game.    Not often Bron chokes.


Yea, Coby is ballin'.  Bulls playing themselves out of a top lottery chance as well.  A few weeks ago, I thought the Mav's would win the next game, but now not so sure.   If the Mav's could have won the games they should have, Pacers and Sixers, they would be fighting for a 7 seed right now.   I hope AD and Washington play tomorrow as well.

[DanSchwartzgan]

...and the Lakers had a 16-point lead heading into the 4th AND a 5-point lead with 12 seconds left, and the Bulls were inbounding, so it was a full on choke.  Were it not for Reeves, the Bulls would not have needed the prayer half court shot.  Reeves kept the Lakers from losing it earlier.  The Bulls scored 6 points in 2 seconds when Bron handed the ball back to them.  One of the worst losses in years in my opinion.

I found myself just really happy for Josh Giddey.  It isn’t so much an anti-Laker thing (though I’ve always despised the Lakers).  But that guy has really been through it and it is nice to see a comeback story…better if it was a Dallas comeback story, but still.  Watch the highlights if you haven’t.  Really fun.

[Scott41theMavs]

It was an incredible ending.  Reeves bending over after the final shot was the picture of the game.    Not often Bron chokes.


Yea, Coby is ballin'.  Bulls playing themselves out of a top lottery chance as well.  A few weeks ago, I thought the Mav's would win the next game, but now not so sure.   If the Mav's could have won the games they should have, Pacers and Sixers, they would be fighting for a 7 seed right now.   I hope AD and Washington play tomorrow as well.

Well, it's nice to see that at least one fan doesn't care that we aren't getting Cooper Flagg.

Of the Mavs' remaining schedule, the Bulls game, the two Clippers games, and the Lakers game (yes, even that - Luka's revenge game) are losses. Probably also the Grizz, too, if they have a chance at the 4 seed. There's no way the Mavs can lose against Brooklyn or Toronto. Atlanta is the question mark. So the Mavs are looking at a 38- or 39-win season - way too high for a team that quite desperately needed a serious chance at the top of the lottery. Absolutely every single iota of need and desire to make the play-in should have gone completely out of existence with Kyrie's injury.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

It's starting to look like Chicago won that trade. Caruso has been hurt and in and out of the lineup, he's still an elite defender to add to what OKC has, but The Bulls took off when they moved Giddey to SF. He has the length (6'8) to play it, with Ball at the point they always have two ball handlers and playmakers in the lineup and White has been lights out.

[omahen]

It's starting to look like Chicago won that trade. Caruso has been hurt and in and out of the lineup, he's still an elite defender to add to what OKC has, but The Bulls took off when they moved Giddey to SF. He has the length (6'8) to play it, with Ball at the point they always have two ball handlers and playmakers in the lineup and White has been lights out.

On the other hand, OKC has plenty of creation and scoring and Giddey was the guy that was targeted on defense and a guy that was left wide open on offense. Opponents might still gamble and leave Caruso open, but he is definitely a great defensive upgrade. I think there is a huge difference between PO and regular season games. Its not like Bulls had a great season, despite their nice stretch lately. 

Lakers were on 2nd night of a B2B and they were better for most of the game. Bulls shot 11 of 14 from three in the fourth quarter and scored 44 points. Historical ending with 3 three pointers in 12 seconds, including game winning halfcourt shot. Great game to watch, even with a heartbreaking ending.

[bubbler86]

Well, it's nice to see that at least one fan doesn't care that we aren't getting Cooper Flagg.

Of the Mavs' remaining schedule, the Bulls game, the two Clippers games, and the Lakers game (yes, even that - Luka's revenge game) are losses. Probably also the Grizz, too, if they have a chance at the 4 seed. There's no way the Mavs can lose against Brooklyn or Toronto. Atlanta is the question mark. So the Mavs are looking at a 38- or 39-win season - way too high for a team that quite desperately needed a serious chance at the top of the lottery. Absolutely every single iota of need and desire to make the play-in should have gone completely out of existence with Kyrie's injury.

Assuming they did not lose out or were close to it, which I thought was a crazy thought/prediction that the guys would not try, they were never going to have a better chance than 3% or 4.5% for #1, so we are talking a difference here of ~2-3%.   Now, if we are talking top 4 vs. Flagg, then yes they could have won some and still been able to get into the 14% range vs 5%, but Flagg was always a miracle lottery pick pipe dream, in my opinion.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

On the other hand, OKC has plenty of creation and scoring and Giddey was the guy that was targeted on defense and a guy that was left wide open on offense. Opponents might still gamble and leave Caruso open, but he is definitely a great defensive upgrade. I think there is a huge difference between PO and regular season games. Its not like Bulls had a great season, despite their nice stretch lately. 

Lakers were on 2nd night of a B2B and they were better for most of the game. Bulls shot 11 of 14 from three in the fourth quarter and scored 44 points. Historical ending with 3 three pointers in 12 seconds, including game winning halfcourt shot. Great game to watch, even with a heartbreaking ending.

True...

[cow]

Giddy was (is?) damaged good thanks to is off the court activities so that's going to skew the value in that trade.

[F Gump]

The Kings won, so there is no tanking for the West final spots, but the Mavs' hopes of getting to the 8th or 9th seed for the draft are mostly tanked.  The Lakers cannot beat the Bulls...one might say the Mavs playing better than the Lakers right now.

The Mavs were NEVER getting to the 8th or 9th lottery seed, no matter what. 

It's incredibly hard to "move up" much in the Tank Race, because the teams in front of you are typically tanking too. (Some look like they arent, but that is often deceptive, and they reel off a slew of consecutive losses once some team gets close.)

The did have a possible shot at 11, but more likely 12-13, and that hasn't changed. But the play-in has the potential to change things unexpectedly if some team makes the actual playoffs who wasn't slotted to do so. Including Dallas.

[Scott41theMavs]

The Mavs were NEVER getting to the 8th or 9th lottery seed, no matter what. 

It's incredibly hard to "move up" much in the Tank Race, because the teams in front of you are typically tanking too. (Some look like they arent, but that is often deceptive, and they reel off a slew of consecutive losses once some team gets close.)

The did have a possible shot at 11, but more likely 12-13, and that hasn't changed. But the play-in has the potential to change things unexpectedly if some team makes the actual playoffs who wasn't slotted to do so. Including Dallas.

If the Mavs not only make the play-in but get into the playoffs - robbing themselves of a lottery pick - I'm going to break my cranium banging my head against the wall. So I hope that doesn't happen.